Defending the delay in his nation's response to North Korean shell attacks, South Korean defence minister drew a surprising comparison with a computer game, saying "This isn't StarCraft."

Defending the delay in his nation's response to North Korean shell attacks, South Korean defence minister drew a surprising comparison with a computer game, saying "This isn't StarCraft."

Video-game website Kotaku reports that minister Kim Tae-young was questioned by a politician who demanded to know why the South's retaliation was delayed by 13 minutes, and why it was not forceful enough. Following North Korea's shelling of the island of Yeonpyeong, South Korean forces fired several shots in response, but without recording any apparent hits.

Kim Tae-young, who has since resigned from his position, was using a comparison with the video game to illustrate the seriousness of the situation, and to explain why the decision to respond was not taken lightly.

The real-time strategy game StarCraft is massively popular in South Korea; it's virtually the national sport, with match-ups televised and many successful StarCraft players turning professional and gaining widespread celebrity.